In recent years many Brazilian full-backs have essentially become wingers, and some have found it difficult to adapt when they move to Europe and are asked to play a more balanced game.

But Santos was a good club for a young full-back to develop.

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Alex Sandro is poised to make a £61million move from Juventus to Chelsea

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Alex Sandro takes on Nicolas Prieto of Uruguay at the South American U20 Championship in 2011

Alex Sandro had come up the youth ranks with Atletico Paranaense in the south of Brazil.

But Santos picked him up early.

Pele’s old club are not a giant concern, and once the great man retired they slumped.

In the current century they have bounced back with an excellent youth policy.

Robinho spearheaded one generation, Neymar was the main man in another, and Alex Sandro was drafted in at the age of 19.

Then coach Dorival Junior fashioned a side that did things a little differently.

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Alex Sandro in action for Atletico Paranaense in 2009

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Alex Sandro is believed to be closing in on a record £61m deal to Chelsea

Where most Brazilian sides closed down midfield with markers and looked to attack down the flanks, Santos sought to play more football through the centre of the field.

The full-backs, then, were expected to make an attacking contribution.

But they were also defenders.

Alex Sandro developed both sides of his game, and though he picked up a second yellow card for an innocuous looking challenge in the 92nd minute, he had shown against Botafogo on that May 2010 afternoon that he was one for the future.

In the Champions League final, he dominated the entire left flank and continually drove the team forward

Before long he was a South American Under-20 champion with Brazil, and played a few games as Santos won the Copa Libertadores, South America’s Champions League, for the first time since the days of Pele.

He also had an Olympic silver medal from the London Games– though it was not his finest hour.

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Alex Sandro made his mark in European football at Porto

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Alex Sandro in action for Juventus in the Champions League final against Real Madrid

Alex Sandro: the heir to Roberto Carlos' crown

Brazilian Alex Sandro, 26, was born in January 1991.

He came through the ranks at Atletico Paranese, played for Santos, then joined Porto for £8.4million in July 2011.

He played 87 games for Porto in four seasons, winning two Portuguese titles.

Sandro played for Brazil at the London 2012 Olympics, where he won a silver medal.

Juventus signed him for £22million in August 2015.

He has so far won seven international caps for Brazil, where his attacking flair has been likened to Roberto Carlos.

Indeed, he only lasted half an hour in the final.

The left side of the team’s defence did not work well, with centre back Juan Jesus looking very vulnerable.

By the end of the tournament, coach Mano Menezes was effectively selecting two left backs, with Alex Sandro operating in front of Marcelo.

It unbalanced the side, and when Mexico got off to a flyer in the final Menezes was forced into a rapid rethink, sending on Hulk for Alex Sandro.

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Porto's Alex Sandro takes on Rio Ave's forward Pedro Santos in 2014.

It was a difficult time for the player, who had got off to an uncomfortable start with Porto.

There was even talk of the club offloading him cheaply.

But he showed the strength of character to play his way through the bad patch, establish himself as a first team stalwart and then make Porto some serious money when they sold him on to Juventus two years ago.

Chelsea buy a new left back, or two, every year

2014

Filipe Luis – from Atletico Madrid – £17m

Cristian Cuevas – from O’Higgins – £1.6m

2015

Baba Rahman – Augsburg – £17m

Kennedy - Fluminese – £6.8m

2016

Marcos Alonso – Fiorentina – £23m

The first half of the recent Champions League final was a showcase for the reasons that Chelsea seem prepared to invest so much in him.

Real Madrid played narrow, allowing him to dominate the entire left flank, and he continually drove the team forward.

That magnificent equaliser scored by Mario Mandzukic was set up by his cross.

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Alex Sandro during his time at Brazilian side Santos

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Antonio Conte will likely face a fight with Man City to sign Alex Sandro